Bobcats Drop League Opener in Cheney
12/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Eastern Washington forced 19 Montana State turnovers and limited the Bobcats to 29% shooting in the second half, as the Eagles won a rare early-December Big Sky opener against MSU, 61-55.
“I thought we lost (the game) earlier,” MSU coach Brad Huse said, “in the first half, when we had those 12 sloppy turnovers. They forced some of them, but too many were ballhandling mistakes. We have to iron that out.”
Montana State held a 33-28 halftime lead on the strength of 50% shooting, but the lead could have been bigger. Eastern stayed close to the Bobcats by forcing 12 turnovers in a first half in which MSU out-rebounded the Eagles 22-13 and limited the home team to just 33% shooting.
“We shot 50% in the first half,” Huse said, “but if we don’t have those 12 turnovers the opportunity was there for a nicer lead.”
Eastern took its first lead of the second half on a layup by Mark Dunn at 14:18. A Trey Gross three-pointer and a jumper by Dunn stretched EWU’s lead to five. Divaldo Mbunga ‘s three-point play, and free throws by Erik Rush and Will Bynum helped MSU tie the game, but that stretch also emphasized the Bobcats’ second half frustrations. MSU missed three of the six charity tosses in that stretch.
The team traded the lead until the 2:45 mark, when Andy Genao answered Danny Piepoli’s three-pointer to give EWU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. From that point on, Will Bynum’s dunk was the only basket MSU made.
“It’s those things we can control that we have to handle,” Huse said. “When we’re at the line, we have to make those shots. This was a game that got away in a sense, but Eastern did a good job finding a way to win down the stretch at home. That’s the important thing to understand.”
“I thought we lost (the game) earlier,” MSU coach Brad Huse said, “in the first half, when we had those 12 sloppy turnovers. They forced some of them, but too many were ballhandling mistakes. We have to iron that out.”
Montana State held a 33-28 halftime lead on the strength of 50% shooting, but the lead could have been bigger. Eastern stayed close to the Bobcats by forcing 12 turnovers in a first half in which MSU out-rebounded the Eagles 22-13 and limited the home team to just 33% shooting.
“We shot 50% in the first half,” Huse said, “but if we don’t have those 12 turnovers the opportunity was there for a nicer lead.”
Eastern took its first lead of the second half on a layup by Mark Dunn at 14:18. A Trey Gross three-pointer and a jumper by Dunn stretched EWU’s lead to five. Divaldo Mbunga ‘s three-point play, and free throws by Erik Rush and Will Bynum helped MSU tie the game, but that stretch also emphasized the Bobcats’ second half frustrations. MSU missed three of the six charity tosses in that stretch.
The team traded the lead until the 2:45 mark, when Andy Genao answered Danny Piepoli’s three-pointer to give EWU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. From that point on, Will Bynum’s dunk was the only basket MSU made.
“It’s those things we can control that we have to handle,” Huse said. “When we’re at the line, we have to make those shots. This was a game that got away in a sense, but Eastern did a good job finding a way to win down the stretch at home. That’s the important thing to understand.”
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
